Eben Heed Tilman

Click below to listen to the funeral service. Available until July 15, 2016.

Eben Heed Tilman of Ogden, Utah, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2016.  He was born January 28, 1923, to Oscar Webb and Dorothea Thomas Tilman in Roca, near Lincoln, Nebraska, the fifth of ten children.

Eben served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  His plane was shot down over enemy territory.  He and six other crew members were able to parachute safely before being captured, and marched many miles to a prison camp.  Upon his release, he returned to his wife, Anna Marie Tolley Tilman, in the Seattle, Washington area.  To this union was born Carolann (Fred) Norton, Susan Kay (Greg) Stapp, Darryl Eben, Teresa Eileen (Ferencz) Eastman, Aaron, Matthew Tolley, Johanna Marie and Nathan Allen Tilman.  Eben and Anna divorced after 38 years.

Eben married Alice Jean Mills Dean on 5/18/82 and they lived in California until he retired from Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 9/21/83 when they moved to Middleton, Idaho.  He became step-dad to adult children Michael, Julia, Jeff, and Jerri Ann.  Eben and Jean served a faithful mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Toronto West Mission in Canada before Jean took ill.  Eben lost his sweetheart 2/04/1998 after a lengthy illness.

Later that year, the daughter-in-law of Eben's best friend, Jack Mills, invited Eben and her mom over for dinner. Soon Eben and June Woodruff Whitely, a widow, decided to unite their families and were married 9/07/98.  What a blessing that has been to all of their children.  June brought her eight living children and more grandchildren and great-grandchildren, adding to the mix of 'yours' and 'mine'.  June's children, Shirley (Max) Schmidt, Bob (Pat) Whiteley, Eilleen (Cline) Waddell, Bill (Iris) Whiteley, Kathy (Kim) Mills, Barbara (Jim) Stephenson, Joan (Calvin) Newby and Jerri (Cory) Kesler, and their families, always accepted Eben and loved him dearly, continuing their visits to him after their mother passed away. After living in Eben's home in Roy, Utah, for a few years, they moved to Nampa, Idaho, to be closer to June's family.  Eben and June served in the Ogden Temple and Church Cannery while in Roy, Utah, and the Boise Temple after moving to Nampa.

Many happy years were spent until June's passing on 7/14/09.  Shortly thereafter, Eben sold their home and moved to Farmington, Utah, to stay with his daughter, Susan and her husband, Greg.  They looked after his needs for over four years until he needed more skilled care.  He lived in Centerville for a while before moving to the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veteran's Home, where he was living when he passed away.

Eben, a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served in various callings throughout his life.  He had a great love for his Savior, Jesus Christ, and shared his testimony whenever possible.  He served as a stake and ward missionary several times.  He will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. However, we know he is now with many others that he loves and is rejoicing, having left his physical body behind, worn out from serving others.

He was preceded in death by his dear children, Darryl, Aaron, Matthew and Johanna; three wives, Anna, Jean and June; his parents, Oscar W. and Dorothea Tilman, and  seven of his siblings: brothers Thomas, Oscar, Donald, Blythe "Rusty",  and Prosper "Salty", twin sisters: Gerda and Virda.  Two sisters still living are Sue McCullough, 97 years, and Calore Vanhouden, 86 years.

We love you, Dad, and are so grateful for your example and for all you taught us.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 11:00 am at the Farmington 12th Ward (Steed Creek Stake Center) located at 347 So 200 W. Farmington, Utah 84025 with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 am prior to the service.   Interment at the Farmington City Cemetery. Guestbook to post messages and tributes for the family available at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com